4.2. SR 10-20-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Printer version: As LRT work continues, officials think about luring riders Page 2 of 3 A chief concern is how to get passengers on board once the trains start rolling. The goal: 20,000 daily passengers by 2005. "That's the first thing by which it will be judged," said Mike Setzer, Metro Transit general manager. About 40 connecting bus routes will deliver passengers to the trains. And Metro Transit plans to offer free fides on initial weekends. Sports fans are also expected to fill the trains on the way to the Metrodome. Beyond that, the ridership campaign will include airport advertising aimed at tourists and conventioneers, mailed invitations to residents along the line, and advertisements encouraging suburban commuters to park and ride the rail line. Light rail also will be advertised through the state's tourism bureau and hotel industry, said Bob Gibbons, director of customer services for Metro Transit. With luck, all the buzz will encourage people to ride, he said. But officials are making an early disclaimer: In April, the line will open only part way. The real ridership race won't be on until the trains run all the way to the Mall of America next December. The cars Twenty-four rail cars have been ordered for the service. Two have been delivered, one is en route and 14 will be needed to open the line in April, Setzer said. The cars will be equipped with molded snowplows to sweep the snow off the tracks, a blade on the cantenary will clear power lines of ice, and heating elements on the roof will melt snow. It would be nice to have one big blizzard this winter, Setzer said, to put these features to the test. More parking The line lacks parking. About 1,400 spaces are planned, but Setzer said 4,000 to 5,000 are needed. He continues to look for more. His latest proposal is to designate spaces at the underused parking ramp at the airport's Humphrey terminal for a light rail park-and-ride site. The ramp has open space, and the Metropolitan Airports Commission is considering the idea. But because airport revenues were used to build the parking ramp, users must pay to park there, said Patrick Hogan, Airports Commission public-affairs director. Typically park-and-fide parking is free. There will be 600 free parking spaces available to commuters at the 28th Street Station in Bloomington and 880 at the Fort Snelling Government Services Administration Building. The plan had been to raze a MnDOT maintenance facility near Fort Snelling to provide parking space but because of the state's budget crisis, there isn't money to rebuild the maintenance building elsewhere. Negotiations are underway to make other property available for parking there, Caroon said. The artwork 'http://www.startribune.com/viewers/story.php?template=print_a&story=4108643 9/25/03